VAIKUNTH EKADASHI, INDIAN MYTHOLOGY AND SRIRANGAM THE VAIKUNTHAM OF THE WORLD.

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय 

SRI  VAIKUNTANATHAN IN HIS RESTING POSE.

Today is Vaikunta Ekadashi. The day when the doors to the inner sactum or "Paramapada vasal"  of Lord Vishnu open. It is believed that  anyone passing through the doors will attain "Moksha" (Deliverence from all sins and attain eternal bliss)

PARAMAPADA VASAL

Vaikuntam is the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Vishnu, the lord in the "Ananthasayanam" or reposing pose.He reposes on the seven headed Adhisesha snake with his consort Mahalakshmi by his side and on the large ocean.With Lord Brahma arising from the umbilicus (nabhi) of the lord.

And Srirangam is known as 'Bhooloka Vaikuntam",the Vaikuntam of the world. Then there are the Parthasarathi temple and Ananthapadmanabha sami temples in Chennai and Kerala.

ARANGA SAYANAM

SRIRANGAM TEMPLE

And now about Ekadashi. Ekadashi is said to be a very sacred day for Hindus.

A lunar month in the Hindu calendar has two fortnights, and begins with the New moon, (Amavasya). The lunar days are called tithis and each month has 30 tithis,  A paksha has 15 tithis, The first fortnight between New Moon Day and Full Moon Day is called Shukla Paksha, the period of the brightening moon (waxing moon), and the second fortnight of the month is called “Krishna Paksha”, the period of the fading moon (waning moon).

Vaikunta Ekadashi is the Shukla Paksha Ekadashi that occurs during the Margashrisha or Margazhi month in the Hindu calendar. The Vaishnava sect believes that ‘Vaikunta Dwaram’ or ‘the gate to the Lord's Inner Sanctum’ is opened on this day. Special prayers, yagnas and pujas are arranged at Vishnu temples .Like on other Ekadashi days, people observe fasting and meditate on Vishnu.

The main mantra uttered by devotees throughout the auspicious day is “OM NAMO BHAGVATHE VASUDEVAYA”.(ॐ नमो भग्वथे वासुदेवाय ).

Ekadashi is the 11th lunar day of each of the lunar phases, the Shukla paksha (period of the waxing or brightening moon and the Krishna paksha which is the waning phase of the moon).Ekadashi is considered to be a spiritual day and is observed by partial fasting and only milk, fruits and milk products are eaten. Some observe severe fast and even forego water. Usually there are 24 Ekadashis in a year.

According to Hindu mythology, grains and beans are not eaten on this day because “Pap purusha” resides in these.

PAAP PURUSHA

Devi Ekadashi is a manifestation of eleven “Indriyas” of Lord Vishnu. The demon “MUR” waged war over the celestial Devas and conquered their kingdom. He used to torture the Devas. So the Devas went to Lord Vishnu and implored him to defeat the demon and get back their kingdom.  Lord Vishnu went to the kingdom of Mur and defeated all the demons (Asuras), but could not defeat Mur because of his mystic powers and all his weapons fell like flowers on the demon. Very tired during the battle,Lord Vishnu entered a cave “Himavathi” in a place called Bhadrikashram and soon fell asleep.

When Mur came there and saw the Lord asleep, he tried to kill him.

All of a sudden an extraordinarily beautiful woman appeared from the Lord Vishnu’s Indriyas.  She had many divine  weapons, but Mur fell in love with her and implored her to marry him. Goddess Ekadashi  as she is known because she manifested herself on the Ekadashi day, told him she will marry him if he defeats her in battle. So a fierce battle ensued and the demon was killed.

GODDESS EKADASHI KILLING MUR DEMON

When Vishnu woke up and asked her who she was and how she could defeat the demon whom he, himself could not vanquish.

VISHNU AND EKADASHI DEVI

Ekadashi Devi told Lord Vishnu that since she was created from the Lord’s own Indriyas, she was able to do it and Lord Vishnu granted her several boons e.g she would be the first and chosen one lovable to him, that she be the destroyer of sins, and that she can grant wealth and good health to those who observed the Ekadashi day fast with devotion and faith.

For punishing the evil human beings, Paap Purusha was created. He was the embodiment of all varieties  of sins. But since Ekadashi Devi was granted boons that even an evil human keeping the Ekadashi fast would go to heaven, he asked Lord Vishnu what would happen to him now. Lord Vishnu told him that he could reside in beans and grains on Ekadashi day. So the people who fast on Ekadashi day are not allowed to partake of these things.

Of all the Ekadashi days, Vaikunta Ekadashi is the main day on which hundres of thousands of devotees rush to the temple to walk out through the Paramapada vasal ,the direct way to the inner sactum of Lord Vishnu.

Everything depends on faith.Our Hindu mythology has several such stories which may have a scientific basis behind them. If you see the crowds in the temples today,you will believe that faith and devotion can move mountains and oceans.

                         ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय